Apparatus for purifying mines, tunnels, and subways



May 18 1926.

G. A. ARKWRIGHT APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING MINES, TUNNELS, AND SUBWAYSFiled Sept. 24, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR May 18 1926.

(5. A. ARKWRIGHT APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING MINES, TUNNELS, AND SUBWAYSFiled Sept. 24, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Patented May 18, 1926.

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GEORGE A. ABKVJBIGHT, OF BROGKLYIT, KEV!" YORK.

Application filed September It has been found that the air insubterranean passages such as subways, tunnels and mines carries a verylarge amount of solid matter in the form of dust which is stirred up andkept in circulation by movements withinthe subway etc. For conveniencein nomenclature I will use the word eurvvay as applied to any formsubterrancan passage. In subways provided with railway trains and thelike it has been found that the solid particles coir very hi percentagesof steel dust derived largely from the rails, from the wheels and fromthe brakes. Ordinary dust particles and dirt existing on the streetlevel also find their way into the subway and are there stirred up withthe dirt which is created and Gill. ts in the subway itself. Thecondition of the air thus created is not only very uncomfortable butinjurious to health. The dirt also soils the clothing and persons ofthose who are in the subway both by direct contact and through contactwith the walls of vehicles, seats, etc. There are also frequentlypresent germs which are dangerous to health and odors which areunpleasant.

The mainobject of my invention is to provide means for removing from theair such solid particles or materially reducing the quantity.

Another object is to generally purify and clarify the air.

To carry out the invention 1 provide a car or an attachment for a carhaving means for treating the air in the subway so as to remove thesolid particles, neutralize or remove odors and remove or renderinertinicrobes.

Fig. 1 is a plan view and partial section of a car showing more or lessdiagrammatically one form of apparatus embodying the improvements of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side view and partial longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View of the same on a somewhatlarger scale.

Figs. l and 5 are fragmentary sectional views of details ofconstruction.

In the drawing I have shown the inven tion as applied to a special car,but it should be understood that the invention might be installed as apart or compartment of the car, the reminder of which could be used forother purposes- The body of the car is 24, 1924:. Serial No. 739,555.

preferably provided with two reservoirs and 11 for liquid, one at thebottom and the other at the top. Reservoir 10 may be deep-- e in thecenter than at the ends of the ar. r pump 12 with proper conduitconnections provided for lifting water from the lower reservoir to theupper one. E i-om the upper reservoir tne liquid is distributed throughsprays throughout the car. These sprays may be arran 'ed in a number ofdifferent ways. For instance, I may provide a longi tudinal conduit 1%and outwardly extending conduits 15. I also may provide other conduitsor distributors 16 connected to uprights 1! which have passagesconnecting with the upper reservoir 1 Preferably I provide a centralpartition 18 and baffles or deflectors 19 which extend inwardly from theposts 1'7. The distributors 16 and baths plates 19 are preferablymounted so that they may be swung backward or forward depending upon thedirection of movement of the car. lVhen I speak of a car of course itshould be understood that he car may travel on tracks or an ordinaryroad way.

The car is provided with a number inlet and outlet passages for the airand each of these passages may be provided with a fan for stimulatingcirculation. Such fans may be placed at the sides as shown at 20 and 21in Fig. 2 and/or at the ends as shown at 22. suitable manner so as todraw the air into the car and cause it to circulate therein against thebaffles or partitions l8 and. 19 which are being moistened or sprayed bythe liquid from the distributors i l, 15 and 16.

The inside of the car is preferably provider with inclined floors orbottom plates 23 which are arranged to drain toward the These fans maybe driven in any filter which will remove the solid particles. Such afilter as may be made in anv suitable manner and adapted to be insertedor removed for the purpose of cleaning in any suitable manner such as iscommonly employed in filter constructions. Valves such as 25 and 26 maybe provided in suitable locations for the purpose of controlling theflow of the liquid. 7

I also prefer to provide screens such as 27 at opposite ends of the carfor the removal of large foreign particles. A door 28 may he providedfor convenience in passage through the car.

It will also be understood that a compartnient 29 may be provided forthe niotorinan or driver at one or both ends.

in addition to the means tor spraying the air and the partition andbattle plates I may provide a high PlGfiStlli-B atomizer tor thepurpos', or cooling te by adiabatic expaision. Such spraj l i ieads areshown at 50 supplied with water t therniosti may be employee such a con:

on tor the nrpose i stopping; such a 1 In the operatns the purifying caris d igh the subway from t me to tiiiie as practice would. indicate to iii' 'Wii through the ciinisi a cs chi 'iclei and then allow to escan Ther i is drawn into U l and 20 and by the move- As s toe Water i'lowingetlertors, the dirt is A down into the iilter the bottoiii. The airpasses by the deflectors 19 :nd the partition 18 which prevent?interii'erence oi the air on one side with that on he other. As the airreaches the rear end of the car it passes out through the openingscorresponding to the inlet openings at the front end, the car beingreversible. lhis may appear to be an indirect method of purification butit should serve to remove injurious particles and odors in a practicalinann r at no great expense. It should be understood oi? course that theliquid used would be Water or a solution containing such purifying,de-odoring or (lo-oxidizing agent may be necessary.

lrelferably the car is of approximately the same height and vidtl. as anordinary subway air and the inlets and outlets are provided. at rariouspositions so as to be able to treat as much of the air as possibleWithout depending upon other circulating devices.

I claim:

1. Ar purifying apparatus for subways comprising a reversible car havingscreens at both ends tor removing foreign particles from air passingthrough said car, tans for forcing air into said ear and out of said carand liquid spraying and deflecting means for removing ot .1 particlestron-i the air and collecting them in the car as the car i'ay ClQ RZllIii 2H e run through t .screeiied inlet at one c other, battling decar. awater rese "coir ruilll' abore said plates, iiig tron; said tank to .r 1Stilts.

-tes for cans water to ie uri ace or said and a i g water jtit reservoirn l "i tor suona s,

t l defiet ors, incans for flowii. rd partition and deflectors and dia'g into and out oi said past said partition and said dclice.

pllillttlllg "tor subways etc comprising a i car having a seri s ot sniing de'ce l iueans tor 'lOWlii'l water over si' A app atrs forsiibivayrii, etc. (01111- a rover-able cai having a series of swingingdeli i: tit ii'ieaiis ior Water oi'er said (reflectors and means tor'orcing air throu h Ft id car over the surface of said deflectors ii islow t ti e the bottom. '5. said car between said deflector and acollecting reservoir below the tallwater.

A. ARKXVRIGHT.

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